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RV-15 E-LSA QB kit
- Thread starter Stephan
- Start date
To offer an E-LSA kit Vans would first need to offer a factory built RV-15 (as they do the -12).
S-LSA has been confirmed for RV-15 by VAN.
They would have to build the aircraft to the ASTM standard and obtain an AW certificate as S-LSA. No requirement to 'offer' it.
You're likely to get a bunch of push-back on this here. They have definitely described this as the business case for the RV-15. They probably will, and we all hope see it happen. They have to actually execute on that plan. They have made no confirmations that this will happen on any particular timeline.
This is described quite a bit in a few other threads here that you should be able to find by searching a few relevant terms.
My opinion is that a traditional QB is unlikely. The modern production processes and documentation for the RV-15 put it somewhere between legacy SB and QB kits. I think more experienced builders might argue that the -12/-15 generation kits (to some degree even the -14) are easier to complete than legacy QB kits. It's hard for me to see the value in having portions of the structure framed up when they are relatively easy to do.
This is my point.
Fair enough. There is a huge gap between getting an AW cert for their final design, and going into production on factory built airplanes or some form of QB which is what I presumed I was responding to.
Creating the S-LSA is nearly certain, and I think we will see that wrapped up within the next year or at least in the same timeframe as complete kits. The ASTM standards are being met as they go, so once it's built with finalized kit versions it's done.
Various postings have explained that they have had employees building wings and tails other than the flying prototype. I would expect those to be substantially conforming to the final design so they could easily have a fresh airframe or few ready to go.
I agree about the traditional QB being unlikely ... but I might be willing to pay extra if everything showed up deburred and with the blue plastic removed!!
I got a neighbor involved on the last build. He loves that part, it's like zen for him. After inventory I stack parts roughly in the order that I'll need them, and they show up in the shelf unit prepped and ready to go.
Now that is what I call a good neighbor!!
He's also smaller and a little more flexible than me and volunteers for all the 'climb under the panel' and 'crawl into the tail' type tasks.
… and primed, that would be convenient.
Redbarronofalaska
Member
I believe that is their plan. When you read the instructions they have the sign offs at the end just like you need to an ELSA build. I agree with others that they will have to “certify” the airplane under the ASTM process. Because the standards are still in development and have not been FAA accepted, it’s unknown if the airplane will meet them until the final version is done. I am sure Vans know what is likely to be in them because Rian Johnson, their Chief Engineer is also the Chairman of the ASTM F37 committee. That fives me confidence that they know if it will meet the standards and it probably will.
There is no requirement for progressive (or any other) sign offs in an ELSA build. The obligations to log progress are far lower than EAB, with the only requirement being the final attestation that it's built to plans with factory supplied materials.
